We've put together this glossary of terms you may hear. These are terms specific to mesothelioma and some terms that refer to cancer in general. This glossary is no substitute for talking to your doctor, but we hope that these short definitions will answer some of your questions.
adjuvant - Anything that aids in removing or preventing a disease. For example, a person with mesothelioma may be treated primarily with chemotherapy, supplemented by adjuvant radiation.
asbestos - A naturally occurring substance, mined from rock and made up of tiny fibers, used extensively in thousands of building and insulation products.
asbestos fibers - The most common fibers found in processed asbestos are amosite, crocidolite and chrysotile.
asbestosis - A serious lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers tear the tissue of the wall, and the lung tissue scars, becoming stiff and preventing the lung from working as it is supposed to. Asbestosis is progressive (it gets worse over time) and can be fatal.
aspiration - The process of removing fluid or tissue, or both, from a specific area.
benign - Non-cancerous and not capable of spreading to other parts of the body.
biopsy - The process of surgically removing tissue from the body, examining it under a microscope and making a diagnosis.
brachytherapy - Radiation therapy whereby radioactive materials are placed directly inside the chest or the abdomen at the site of the mesothelioma.
bronchoscope (bronchoscopy) - A bronchoscope is a flexible, lighted tube that is inserted through the mouth into the lungs to examine air passages. The procedure is called a bronchoscopy.
catheter - a hollow tube inserted partially under the skin
through which drugs, including those used in chemotherapy, are
injected directly into the bloodstream.
chemotherapy - The use of drugs and chemicals to treat
cancer.
clinical trial - A research study that attempts to
improve current treatments or finds information on new treatments for patients
with cancer.
CT scan (CAT scan) - A test that uses computers and x-rays
to create images of various parts of the body.
diaphragm - A muscular wall separating the abdomen from the
cavity containing the lungs and heart.
effusion - A collection of fluid in a body cavity, usually
between two adjoining tissues. For example, a pleural effusion is the
collection of fluid between two layers of the pleura (the lung's
covering).
external radiation - Radiation that is directed onto the
skin that covers the cancerous region within the body.
extrapleural pneumonectomy - The removal of the pleura,
diaphragm, pericardium and the whole lung on the side of the cancerous
tumor. It is intended to remove all or most of the cancer and some
surrounding tissues as well.
immunoaugmentive therapy (IAT) - A developing treatment for
mesothelioma that seeks to strengthen the body's natural immune system
by balancing four blood proteins.
intraoperative photodynamic therapy - A developing
treatment for mesothelioma. A drug that makes cancer cells more
sensitive to light is injected into a vein several days before surgery
to remove the cancerous growth. A special light is shone on the area,
which increases the chance of removing more of the cancer.
intrapericardial chemotherapy -
Chemotherapy drugs injected directly into the pericardium.
intraperitoneal chemotherapy - Chemotherapy drugs injected
directly into the abdominal cavity.
intrapleural chemotherapy - Chemotherapy drugs injected
directly into the chest cavity.
laparoscope (laparoscopy) - A laparoscope is a lighted tube
that is inserted into the abdomen to examine the abdominal wall. The
procedure is called a laparoscopy. (See peritoneoscope/peritoneoscopy)
lymph nodes - The hundreds of small oval bodies that
contain lymph. Lymph nodes act as our first line of defense against
infections and cancer.
malignant - Cancerous and capable of spreading to other
parts of the body.
mediastinum (mediastinoscopy) - The mediastinum is the
partition between the lungs, formed by the adjoining walls of the
pleura, and between the lungs and the lymph nodes. A mediastinoscopy
is the procedure by which a lighted tube is inserted into the chest
cavity to examine the lymph nodes.
mesothelial cells (mesothelium tissue) - The general name
for the specialized cells that cover the heart, lungs, abdomen and
most other organs in the body. The layer of cells is called
mesothelium tissue.
mesothelioma - Cancer of the mesothelium tissue. In
particular, cancer of the lining around the lungs (pleura), heart
(pericardium) and abdomen (peritoneum).
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - A sophisticated test
that provides in-depth images of organs and structures in the body.
oncology (oncologist) - Oncology is the study of cancer. An
oncologist is a physician who specializes in cancer and cancer
treatment.
palliative radiation - Radiation treatment aimed at the
relief of pain and symptoms of disease but not intended to cure the
disease.
paracentesis - The process of removing fluid from the
abdomen using local anesthesia, needle and syringe.
pericardial mesothelioma - Cancer of the lining that
surrounds the heart.
pericardiocentesis - The process of removing fluid from the
sac around the heart using local anesthesia, needle and syringe.
pericardium - The lining that surrounds the heart.
peritoneal mesothelioma - Cancer of the lining that
surrounds the abdominal cavity.
peritoneoscope (peritoneoscopy) - A peritoneoscope is a
lighted tube that is inserted into the abdomen to examine the
abdominal wall. The procedure is called a peritoneoscopy. (See
laparoscope/laparoscopy)
peritoneum - The lining that surrounds the abdominal
cavity.
pleura - The lining that surrounds the lungs and prevents
the lungs from rubbing against the ribs.
pleural mesothelioma - Cancer of the lining that surrounds
the lungs.
pleurectomy (decortation) - The procedure of removing the
pleura, where the cancerous tumor has lodged, along the inner chest
wall. It is used to control effusions and ease pain.
pneumonectomy - The surgical removal of a lung.
prognosis - The projected outcome of a disease; the life
expectancy.
protocol - A treatment plan.
radiation therapy - Intensive x-ray treatment that damages
or kills cancer cells.
recurrence - The reappearance of a disease after a period
of remission.
regression - The shrinkage of cancer growth.
remission - The complete or partial disappearance of the
signs and symptoms of disease.
risk factor - Anything that increases a person's chances of
developing cancer, for example, smoking and lung cancer.
staging - The determination of the size and extent of
cancer in the body.
systemic disease - A disease that affects the entire body
instead of a specific organ.
thoracentesis - A procedure to remove fluids from the area
between the two layers covering the lung (the pleura).
thoracoscope (thoracoscopy) - A thoracoscope is a lighted
tube that is inserted directly into the chest, between the ribs, to
examine the lungs and heart. The procedure is called a thoracoscopy.
thoracotomy - A surgical procedure that opens up the
chest cavity.
tumor - An abnormal overgrowth of cells. Tumors can be
either benign or malignant.
x-ray - High-energy electromagnetic radiation used to
diagnose and treat disease.